Eating different kinds of dietary fiber affects our microbiota, the bacteria that live in our guts, which can in turn affect our overall health. How these dietary fibers, found in fruits, vegetables, and grains, help beneficial gut bacteria grow and how these fibers break down into other bioactive metabolites that benefit the body is an […]
Department News
ACNC Investigator, Dr. Aline Andres is elected to the National Academy of Medicine
One of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, Aline Andres, Ph.D., RD, professor of pediatrics, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, recognized for her global leadership defining how exposures during pregnancy and lactation affect maternal-child outcomes. Dr. Andres and been instrumental in driving several of the ACNC’s rigorously conducted […]
Reviewing a role for polyphenols in breastmilk for healthy infant development
Polyphenols are a broad class of plant bioactive molecules found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Existing and emerging evidence links healthy dietary patterns to maternal and child health benefits, and many healthy dietary patterns are high in polyphenol-containing foods. There is increasing interest in dietary bioactives such as polyphenols in breastmilk, their bioactivity and […]
Staff Spotlight – Leah Burns
Breast milk vs. formula may affect gut health and bone growth
Breast milk is widely considered the best source of nutrition for babies — and one reason for that might be that it influences microbes, or bacteria, in a baby’s gut. These microbes are important for breaking down what we eat into key nutrients that help babies grow and develop. Carbohydrates in breast milk can be […]
Staff Spotlight – Rachel Kelley
Meet Rachel Kelly, Office Manager for the Section of Hematology-Oncology What’s your role in the DOP, and how long have you been here? I am the Office Manager for Hematology Oncology. I joined the DOP in 2005 as an Administrative Specialist. Can you describe a typical day in your job? A typical day in […]
2025 Fellows Research Forum
This year’s presentations covered a vast array of topics. The presentation’s three moderators included Dr. Fuchs, Dr. Rebecca Cantu and Dr. Katherine Tang.
Exposure to certain environmental contaminants during pregnancy is associated with mom’s heart and metabolic health
Environmental contaminants are chemicals around us that are naturally occurring or man-made—they can build up in the body over time and disrupt hormones. One group of widespread environmental contaminants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can cross from a pregnant woman to her baby through the placenta. While pollution from PFAS has been reported in central […]
Staff Spotlight – Erika Lopez
What’s your role in the DOP, and how long have you been here? Can you describe a typical day in your job? What do you enjoy most about your work? What’s a project or accomplishment you’re especially proud of? What motivated you to join this company? How has your role evolved since you started? What’s […]
Unraveling Adipose Tissue Dysfunction Due to Excessive Weight Using Three Research Approaches
A recent paper from the ACNC investigates how maternal weight and diet before and during pregnancy may have an impact on fat development and the metabolic health of her offspring. Postdoctoral Fellow Henry Paz and Assistant Professor Umesh Wankhade used data collected from multiple scientific research models: a cell culture model that examined fat cells […]